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Italian Meatloaf in Sauce (Polpettone) Recipe


This Italian meatloaf in sauce is made with a mixture of beef, pork and melty cheese cubes, then simmered in a easy marinara sauce that provides each moisture and wealthy taste! 

Polpetone on a white plate with two slices sliced.

 

This Italian meatloaf in sauce is like one large meatball that may be shared with the entire dinner desk! It’s just like my traditional Italian polpettone however simmered in a easy tomato sauce that makes it so tasty and juicy.

This meatloaf is so stuffed with taste! As a substitute of utilizing simply beef, it’s made with a mixture of beef and pork for a richer style then milk-soaked bread helps preserve it moist, and as a substitute of the same old ketchup glaze, it’s simmered in marinara sauce for a hearty, comforting end

Why I Love This Italian Meatloaf

  • Straightforward to make: Meatloaf is customary consolation meals, however this Italian-style meatloaf is like one large meatball with the identical taste profile however no have to roll a number of balls.
  • Hearty, flavorful meatloaf: Made with Parmesan, full of agency cheese, seasoned with oregano then partly simmered in tomato sauce because it cooks, it’s stuffed with scrumptious style!

Ingredient Notes

  • Meat: I used a mixture of lean floor beef and floor pork. You should utilize three Italian sausages with casings eliminated as a substitute of floor pork or use only one meat kind on this Italian meatloaf!
  • Bread: As a substitute of bread crumbs, I like to make use of 2 slices of bread soaked in milk. This provides the most effective moisture to the meatloaf so it by no means finally ends up dry!
  • Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for greatest taste. 
  • Egg: I all the time use one giant egg which helps bind the meat and prevents it from falling aside.
  • Oregano: I really like the woodsy taste that this dried herb provides. 
  • Cubed cheese: You should utilize cubed provolone, fontina, agency mozzarella or gruyere. 
  • Tomato sauce: I made an simple tomato sauce with a contemporary garlic clove, tomato puree, bay leaves, salt, water and contemporary basil leaves.

Learn how to Make Italian Meatloaf in Sauce

In a big bowl, add floor beef, floor pork, grated Parmigiano, soaked bread, oregano, egg, salt, and black pepper. Gently combine Italian meatloaf collectively together with your palms simply till mixed.

Making the meatball mixture in a white bowl.Making the meatball mixture in a white bowl.

Flatten the meat combination barely, then place the cubed cheese within the middle. Fastidiously fold the meat across the cheese and form it right into a spherical or barely oval loaf, sealing the cheese inside.

Adding the cheese to the meat and covering.Adding the cheese to the meat and covering.

In a big pot, warmth olive oil over medium warmth then saute the garlic clove. Take away the garlic then add the tomato passata, bay leaf, and salt. Carry the sauce to a mild boil and let it bubble for a couple of minute.

Making the sauce in the pot.Making the sauce in the pot.

Take the pot off the warmth and punctiliously place the meatloaf into the sauce. Spoon a few of the sauce excessive, cowl with a lid, and cook dinner on low warmth. Midway by, gently flip the meatloaf—watch out to not break it—and spoon extra sauce excessive. Cowl and proceed cooking.

The polpettone in the sauce in the pot.The polpettone in the sauce in the pot.

When it’s virtually accomplished, stir within the contemporary basil leaves and simmer uncovered to let the flavors come collectively. Take away the Italian meatloaf with marinara sauce from the pot, slice, and serve with loads of the savory tomato sauce.

recipe suggestions and variations

  • Don’t overmix: Combine the meat simply till every little thing is mixed. Overmixing could make the meatloaf dense as a substitute of tender.
  • Use a meat thermometer: Because the meatloaf cooks in sauce, the best method to examine for doneness is with an instant-read thermometer. The middle ought to attain 160°F.
  • Bake it as a substitute: Choose the oven? Place the meatloaf in a shallow baking dish, cowl with tomato sauce, and bake at 400°F for 50–60 minutes.
  • Straightforward add-ins: Stir sautéed mushrooms or onions into the sauce for further taste. For the meatloaf, strive including grated onion or finely diced pink bell peppers for extra moisture and colour.
  • Change up the seasoning: You should utilize Italian seasoning as a substitute of oregano, or add garlic powder for much more savory taste.
  • Easy swap: As a substitute of soaked bread, you need to use bread crumbs like my Italian stuffed meatloaf or cracker crumbs like my greatest meatloaf.
Italian meatball in sauce in a black pot.Italian meatball in sauce in a black pot.

Serving Strategies

Earlier than serving, let the Italian-style meatloaf relaxation for 5-10 minutes then serve it by itself or with cooked pasta or for an actual deal with make do-it-yourself pasta. I additionally prefer to serve it with a inexperienced salad and facet of Italian bread for dipping all the additional sauce! As a substitute of pasta, you might additionally serve this Italian meatloaf with polenta or roasted rosemary potatoes.

Freezing Meatloaf

Double this meatloaf recipe because it freezes properly!

  • Freeze after cooking: Cool utterly then flash freeze meatloaf slices on parchment paper lined baking sheet. As soon as frozen, switch to a freeze protected bag and freeze for as much as 3 months. Retailer sauce individually. 
  • Freeze earlier than cooking: After shaping, freeze uncooked Italian meatloaf by wrapping in aluminum foil then inserting in a freezer protected bag. Retailer frozen for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge then proceed with cooking with the tomato sauce. 
Italian meatball with two slices on a white plate.Italian meatball with two slices on a white plate.

This Italian Meatball in Sauce often known as Polpettone, is one in all my favourite recipes that my sister in regulation would make and I hope you get pleasure from it too! Buon Appetito!

FOR THE MEATBALL

  • 1.3 kilos leaner floor beef
  • 10½ ounces floor pork (or 3 Italian sausages casing eliminated)
  • ½ cup freshly grated parmigiano cheese
  • 2 slices bread (soaked in milk and extra moisture squeezed)
  • ½ teaspoon oregano
  • 1 giant egg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (or much less when you want)
  • 2 dashes black pepper
  • ½ cup cheese (provolone, fontina or gruyere cubed)

FOR THE SAUCE

  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 3 cups tomato passata (puree)
  • 1-2 bay leaves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (or rather less when you want)
  • ½ cup water
  • 4-5 basil leaves

FOR THE MEATBALL

  • In a big bowl add the bottom beef, floor pork (or sausage break into items), parmigiano, moist bread, oregano, egg, salt and pepper gently mix properly. Flatten and place the cubed cheese within the center and gently cowl to kind a ball or slight oval form.

FOR THE SAUCE

  • In a big pot add the oil and the garlic clove, fry 1-2 minutes, take away the garlic add the passata, bay leaf and salt convey to a boil and boil for one minute. Take away the pot from the warmth, rigorously add the meatball and canopy with the sauce. Cowl and cook dinner for 40 minutes on low. Fastidiously turning midway by with out breaking, once more cowl with sauce and proceed cooking.

  • When virtually cooked add the basil leaves and cook dinner with out the lid for 1-2 minutes. Take away from the pot, slice and serve with the sauce. Get pleasure from!

You might additionally make pasta and serve with pasta and the sauce. 

Learn how to retailer the Meatloaf in Sauce

Any leftovers ought to be positioned in an hermetic container and saved within the fridge, it should preserve for as much as three days. Reheat in a skillet. 
Double this meatloaf recipe because it freezes properly!
Freeze after cooking: Cool utterly then flash freeze meatloaf slices on parchment paper lined baking sheet. As soon as frozen, switch to a freeze protected bag and freeze for as much as 3 months. Retailer sauce individually. 
Freeze earlier than cooking: After shaping, freeze uncooked Italian meatloaf by wrapping in aluminum foil then inserting in a freezer protected bag. Retailer frozen for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge then proceed with cooking with the tomato sauce. 

Energy: 792kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 56g | Fats: 52g | Saturated Fats: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 3g | Monounsaturated Fats: 22g | Trans Fats: 1g | Ldl cholesterol: 227mg | Sodium: 886mg | Potassium: 1549mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1327IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 417mg | Iron: 8mg | Phosphorus: 690mg

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